Vertical record file



April 1, 1939. LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS VERTICAL RECORD FILE Filed April 28 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l p 3 LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS ,752,300

VERTICAL RECORD- FILE Filed April 28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .I4E ROI E. HUTCHINGS, OIE BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, IBY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO BEMINGTON RANID INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OIE DELAWARE VERTICAL RECORD FILE This invention relates to vertical record files and relates more particularly to record files of the class described in which the record cards are maintained in a substantially vertical position with one card overlappmg the adjacent card for index pu1 p0ses.

. Various filing deviceshave been proposed in which the record cards are supported in overlapping, visible position, but many of these devices are complicated in construction and expensive t0 manufacture. They frequently occupy considerable room and have a large build up. Also the reference Work with many of these filing devices is slow because of the fact that a maximum visibility of indexing is not secured by proper mechanical arrangements.

In certain cases such as in the filing of insurance records, it is desirable to file two or more cards of difierent sizes in a single pocket and have one card the index card. Suitable filing devices for cards of different sizes are notavailable. Many of the filing devices on the market are not flexible because of the fact that new cards or records cannot be added or old cards taken away. Man of the filing devices on the market do not ave a simple and convenient type of signalling device with the result that speed in reference work is reduced.

An object of this invention is to provide a filing device which is simple in construction and cheap t0 manufactur and which Will provide maximum speed of reference and maximum visibility.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filing device in which the recordcards become self-indexing and in which said cards are supported vertically in overlapping index position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vertical visible filing device which permits the maximum amount of flexibility as to the ease With which the cards may be added to or taken away from the file.

A still further object of the invention is to rovide a filing device in which any number of cards of diierent sizes may be supported between the separators or pocket members; also to improve filing devices of the class de- 1926. Serial No. 105,239.

scribed in other respects hereinafter specified Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through one of the file trays showing method of removal of one of the separator frames,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of my improved file trays,

Fig. 7 is a plan Sectional fragmentary view of. the file tray device for maintaining the separator frames in position,

Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of the frames used in the file tray,

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through a series of separator cards in overlap'ping assembled position.

Fig. 10 is an edge sectional elevation of one of the separator frames, on line 10-10 of Fig. 3. A

Fig. 11 is an edge elevation 'of one of the separator cards,

end

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view .through the top of a separator card showing strip 16 secured toits bottom edge by any suitable way such as by staples 17 and a series of slots or openings 18 is formed in the card adjacent said strip so as to form a bend l1ne along said slots and permit the strip 16 to be bent back parallel to the card to form a rounded bottom in the pocket. This will perrmt a record card to loosely rest in the pocket between the separators and prevent the lower edge of the record card from engagmg between two bars 16. It will also tend to prevent any sticking of a record card to any part of the separators. This free support1ng of a record card is clearly illustrated 1n Fig. 9. An inset shoulder 19 is preferably formed by cutting out a small piece at each l3ottorn corner of separator card 15 and stnp 17 13 attached to the bottom of said card so that the ends of said strip overhang the shoulder 19 to form tongues 20 for the purpose of engaging under the supporting flanges 21 of a separator frame 22 to be more fully descnbed.

Along the top of separator card 15 1s se cured a sheath or folded member 23, of a ing a rear transparent material such as celluloid, hav fold 24 and a front fold 25, the separator card 15 being positioned between the two folds 24 and 25. The lower edge of the front fold 25 is preferably folded rearwardly and porting flange 26. An ear 27 1s formed on each of the upper corners of the card 15 for convenience in assembly t0 space the upper edge of the sheath 23 properly with respect to said card 15. An opening 28 is thus formed between the cars for the purpose of permitting-the index characters of a file card to be seen through the folds 24 and 25 of the sheath 23. The sheath 23 may be attached to the card 15 in any suitable way such as by staples 29.

The separator frame 22 is preferably rectangular in shape and has formcd on its upper edge a bead 30 so as to insure a smooth edge for handling. The flanges 21 are formed on the vertical edges of the frame 22, said flanges preferably extending nearly the full length of said frame. The upper portion of flange 21 may be pressed down flush against the frame 22, as shown in Fig. 14 so as to form a retaining shoulder 23A and a similar portion of flanges 21 is pressed flush against the frame 22 to form a loWer retaining shonlder 24A, the flanges 21 between shoulders 23A and 24A being spaced apart from the frame 22 approximately the thickxless of the strips 16 so as to slidably receive tongues 20 and maintain the separators 15 in overlapping stepped'vertical position With the horizontal edges 'of strips 16 abutting as shown in Fig. 9. When the separators are in assembled position as shown in Fig. 9, the width of the overlapping portion formed by the upper edges of the sheaths 23, is equal to the width of the strips 16.

upwardly to form a signal sup- 1mproved signal 35 having an outwardly extending ear or tab 36. The signal 35 may be of any desired color and is inserted under the fold 25 and flange 26 until the outwardly extending ear 36 moves into the slot formed by the fiange 26, said signal being held in visible position as it can be seen through the transparent fold 25. The removal of the signal 35 from the fold 25 may be readily accomplished by manually moving the signal upwardly to disengage the ear 36 from the flange 26 and then moving the bottom edge of said signal 35 ontwardly after which the signal may be easily withdrawn from the fold 25.

A roll 39 is formed on the bottom of frame 22 and cylindrical roller bearings 40 are attached to the outer ends of roll 39 said bearings 40 being adapted to rock or roll on the bottom 41 of a file tray 42 so as to support A pair of cars 34 the frames 22 having the separator cards 15 and permit the easy and frictionless tilting of said frames 22 at will.

The file tray 42 bus upwardly extending side walls 43 and 44, the wall 43 having an angle strip 45 secured to its lower iriner surface, said strip being spaced apart from the bottom 41 of said tray and angle stri 46 is attached to the wall 44 near the inside ottom edge thereof, the angle strip 46 being somewhat wider than angle strip 45 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The roller bearings 40 are adapted to be retained under angle strips 45 and 46 so as. to prevent the vertical movement of frames 22. A downwardly extending flange47 is formed on the angle strip 45, said flange being adapted to limit the lateral movement of the roller bearing 40 to the left as seen in Fig. 4., In order to limit the lateral movement of the roller beafing 40 -to the right as seen in Fig. 4, a locking bar 48 is positibned under the angle strip 46 between bearings 40 on the frames 22 and file tray wall 44.

The longitudinal movement of bar 48 is prevented y a shoulder 49 formed near the end wall 50 of tray 42 and another shoulder 51 near the rear wall 52 of said tray 42. How- V plurality of inclined cam surfaces 53 are formed on the outer edge of the bar 48 and a frusto-conical actuating cam 54 engages each of said cam surfaces 53, said cams 54 being secured to a shaft 55. The shaft 55 is rotatably mounted on shoulder5l at one end and is provided at the other end with threads 56 adapted to be received in a threaded opening in shoulder 49 so that as said shaft 55 is rotated by means of an operating lever 57 at the front of the tray, it is given an axial movement so that the cams 54 act on cam surfaces 53 and move the locking bar 48 inwardly against the ends of the bearings 40. A plurality of springs 58 are retained in sock ets 59 on the bottom 41 of the tray 42, said springs being adapted to normally urge the locking bar 48 outwardly so that the cam surfaces 53 are resiliently pressed against the cams 54. When the shaft 55 is screwed to the left as seen in Fig. 7, the locking bar 48 disengages from the roller bearings 40 and permits the lateral movement of frame 22 until the opposite roller bearing 40 is released from angle strip 45 after Which the frame 22 may be removed from the file tray 42 and may be moved upwardly at an angle as shown in Fig. 5.

A U-shaped hinge member 61 is pivotally mounted on the top of each of the tray ends 50 and 52. When the file is in closed position, the free end of bingo member 61 is adapted to be received in a clip 62 secured to an end frame 63 so that said frame is maintained in a substantially vertical position as shown.in

Fig. 6. Clips 63A secured to tray bottom 41,

engage the bottom rolls of frames 63 so as to maintain said frames 63 in a tilted or vertical position on said tray bottom 42. These clips extend through openings 63B in frames 63. When it is desired to refer to filing cards, the bingo member 61 is moved upwardly and outwardly out of engagement with clip 62 S0 that the frames 22 and 63 may be separated as shown in Fig. 1 to permittilting of the frames and reference to file cards 64 contained between separator cards 15. A fi1ler card 65 is inserted with its tongues 20A under the flanges 21 just below the upper stops 23" as shown in Fig. 3 so as to receive the top file card 64 and prevent said card from dropping down behind the strips 16. R011 66 is formed at the top of each end frame 63 and opening 67 is ont ont so as to form a hand hold at the top of said end frames 63 thus permitting the cabinet or tray 42 to be easily carried from place to place.

It should be noted that with the arrangments shown one edge of the frames 22 is spaced apart from the wall 44 so that any number of the file cards 64 may be moved edgewise to the ri ht as seen in Fig. 4, to indicate acti'vity. hen the file cards are in assembled position in the file tray 42, the index characters are visible through the two folds 24 and 25 thus causing the file card 64 to be self indexing without necessitating further notations on the separators 22. This self indexing feature of the filing devices considerably simplifies reference Work. WVhen the filing-device-is in assembled position, the

separators are supported on the frame 22 in overlapping position and each Separator forms a pocket for the reception -of record material to be filed.

As seen in Fig. 1 cards or other matter to be filed may be deposited between the frames 22 temporarily until a time is found convenient for classifying the file cards in their Iproper separators. This feature causes the ling device t0 be'more convenient than has heretofore been possible. The filing device is espcially flexible since the file cards are not attached to the separators and may be removed at Will. Ordinarily When a file card is removed permanently from the separator it is unnecessary to change the position of the separators since no permanent notation appears on the separators. However, if it is desired t0 insert difierent separator cards Space may be'left at the top of the Open portion of flanges 21 and additional separator cards may be added from time to time. The added capacity thus provided is effectua] or evenly distributed throughout the filing system thus improving the flexibility thereof. It is seen that the filing cards are arranged in small groups on each frame 22 thus permitting an entire frame with a small group of file cards to be removed from tray 42 and a new one inserted.

In view of the fact that the visibility of all file cards has been made possible by my improved filing device it is not absolutely necessary to arrange all file cards associated with any one frame 22 in strict numerical or alphabetical sequence. File cards showing the greatest activity may be placed in the top separators of each frame 22 as the file card 64 desired for reference can be easily selected regardless of its sequence since all of the index characters of all file cards on a single frame 22 can be seen at a glance. The signals 31 at the top of frames 22 are easily visible along the tops of said frames so that a single signal may control as manv as a thousand file cards if so desired.

I have found that my improved vertical and visible filing device occupies less than half the space of any other known filing device having equal capacities. The entire filing device is light in weight and has a maximum portability. Because of the extreme visibility of all file cards the speed of reference is at maximum. Also any number' illustrated examples constitute a practical embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself precisely to the details herein illustrated and described, since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departing. from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a filing device, a plurality of separator members, a supporting rail hingedly connected to each separator member, a frame member, means for supporting said frame member in a vertical position, and means on said trame member engaging the ends of said supporting rails for supporting a series of the separator members in overlapping substantially Vertical postion so as to form pockets for loosely receiving record cards.

2. In a filing device,a plurality of similar separator members, a frame member, means for supporting said frame member in a vertical position, and a retaining fiange associated with said frame member adapted to securely but detachably engage and support said separators in overlapping substantially vertical position so as to form pockets for loosely receiving record cards.

3. In a filing device, a plurality of separater members of substantially similar shape, a frame member hingedly supported at the lower end thercof, and means for removably attaching said separator members to said rame member to form a series of pockets in stepped position for the reception of record matter in stepped, visible arrangement.

4. In a filing device, a plurality of separator members of substantially similar shape, and a frame member having a flange, a section of the separator member being adapted to be bent back in parallel relation thereto and removably secured under said flange so as to support said separators in stepped, overlapping relation on said frame member for the reception of record cards in visible index position.

5. In a filing device, a trame member supported in a tilting substantially vertical position, a separator card, and a stifiening strip attached to a horizontal edge of said separator card, said strip being adapted to be folded back in parallel relation to said sparator and attached to said frame member in stepped position with other similar separator cards, the width of the steps being equal to the width of said strips, said separators being adapted to form pockets for the reception of record cards in visible ieference position.

hingedly but detachably connected at the botmembers, a plurality of separators attached to each of said fra1ne members adapted to form pockets forthe reception of record matter, a file tray for the reception of said frame members in a substantially vertical position, a plurality of retaining flanges on said file tray adapted to engage said frames and locking means associated with said tray for removably engagin said frame members to permit removal o a frame member without removing other frame members in said tray.

9. In a filing device, a plurality of separator-supporting frame members, a file tray adapted to receive said frame members in substantially vertical face-to-face position, 21 bearing on each lower corner of said frame members, a plurality of flanges on said tray adapted to engage said bearings, a locking member associated with one of said flanges adapted to removably engage said bearings, and cam means for actuating said locking member into locking position.

10. In a filing device, a plurality of separator-supporting frame members, a file tray adapted to receive said frame members in substantially vertical, face-to-face position, a bearing on each lower corner of said frame members, a plurality of flanges on said tray adapted to engage said bearings, a cam surface being formed on said locking member, a rotatably mounted shaft, a frustro-conical cam associated with said shaft and means for moving said shaft axially during the rotation thereof so that said cam causes a lateral displacement of said locking member.

11. In a filing device, a plurality of substantially vertical separator-supporting frame members, a file tray, a bearing on each lower corner of said frame members, a plurality of flanges on said tray adapted t0 engage said bearings, a loeking member asso ciated with one of said flanges adapted to removably engage said bearings, a cam surface formed on said locking member, a rotatably mounted shaft, a frustro-conical cam asso- 1 ciated with said shaft, said shaft being provided With a threaded section and a threaded bearing therefor to cause axial movement of said shaft vvhen rotated, resilient means for urging said cam surface into contact With said cam, and means for rotating said shaft so that the axial movement thereof causes the lateral displacement of said locking member into locking engagement with said 'frame members.

12. In a filing device, a plurality of separator members for receiving record file cards, a plurality of frame members, each trame member being adapted to support a series of said separator members, and a file tray for supporting said frame members in a substantially vertical position including a pair of side walls, one of said side walls being spaced apart from the edges of said separator members so as to permit the lateral displacement of said record cards.

13. In a filing device, a plurality of separator members having openings, a frame member for supporting said separator members in stepped vertical overlapping position, so as to form a series of pockets for loosely supporting record file cards, and a transparent sheath near the top of a separator adapted to permit characters or legends on said record cards to be visible through said sheath and the opening in said separator.

14. In a filing device, a plurality of separator members, a frame member for supporting said separator members in stepped, vertical position so as to form a series of pockets for the reception of record file cards, a transparent sheath near the top of a separator, a fold o f said sheath being positioned in front of said separator member, an upwardly and inwardly extending flange formed on said front fold, and a signal having an outwardly extending ear adapted to engage said flange and indicate activity of the record card hold by said separator mefnben 15. In a filing device, a plurality of separator cards, a plurality of frame members, each frame member being adapted to support a plurality of said separator cards, each separator having a perforated bend hne, a st1fiening strip adjacent said bend line for attaching said separator member to said frame member in stepped, vertical relation to adjacent separators so as to form a series of pockets ror the reception of record file cards, and means for supporting said trame member in a substantially vertical pos1tion.

16. In a filing device, a frame member, a plurality of separator cards, means for supporting a plurality oisaid frame members in a substantially vertical position, flanges formed on the vertical edges of said frame member for a portion of the length thereof, said flangjes being adapted to support said separator cards in vertical, stepped position, and a filler card on said frame member along the length thereof not covered by said flanges adapted with a separator card to form a pocket for the reception of a record card.

17. In a filing device, a plurality of separater members, a plurality of frame members, each frame member bing adapted to support a plurality of said separator members m a series providing stepped pockets for tion, and a roller bearing at the bottom of a frame member adapted to permit frictionless ti1ting of a frame member.

18. In a filing device, a plurality of separator cards, a plurality of frame members, each frame member being adapted to support a plurality of said separator cards in stepped relation for the reception of record file cards, a file tray adapted to support said frame members in substantially vertical, faceto-face position, and an end fraine member associated with said file tray, said end trame member having -a handle adapted to provide portability of said filing device. V

19. In a filing device, a plurality of relatively heavy frame members, a sbstantially horizontal support for said frame members, said frame members being adapted to normally stand in substantially vertical positions,

parts on said frame members and on said support connecting said frame members and support and permitting said frame members to be shifted bodily on the horizontal plane of said support Whilein upright vertical position or tilted angularly with respect theret0, a plurality of removable separator members adapted for connection with each of said frame members, and a pair of vertically extending continuons parts on said frame members for holding the plurality of said separator members on said frame members in overlapping index arrangement,

20. In a filing device, a plurality of frame members, a plurality of separator members supported in substantially vertical position and in overlapping index relation on each of said frame members, and horizontally disposed means for retaining and supporting said frame members in series, said trame members and means being pivotally connected to permit said frame members to be shifted bodily in a horizontal plane on said support while vertically, p0sitioned, or to be tilted on said pivots at angles to the horizontal.

21. In a filing device, a plurality of separater supporting frame members, a file tray adapted to support said frame members in a substantially vertical, face-to-face position, bearings on the lower ends of said frame members, a plurality of flanges on said tray adapted to engage said bearings to hold the frame member in tiltable relation, a locking member associated with one of said flanges adapted to engage a plurality of said bearings to 'detachably secure said frame members to said tray, and spring meansconnct ing said locking member to said tray.

22. In an index device, a frame member, a series of separator cards hingedly connected at the bottom thereof to said frame member to form pockets for the reception of file cards, and a tray adapted to hingedly support a series of said frame members in a substantially vertical, face-to-face position, said separator cards each having a transparent sheath along its upper edge so that indicia on the upper edges of said file cards Will be visible through the transparent sheaths.

23. In an index device, a frame member,

a series of separator cards hingedly connected at the bottoms thereof to said frame member to form pockets for the reception of file cards, a tray adapted to hingedly support a series of said frame members in a substantially vertical, face-to-face position, transparent sheaths along the upper edges of said separator cards, and signals adapted to be supported by said sheaths.

24. In a filing device, a tray, a plurality V of frame members movably attached in said tray, and a plurality of separators mounted on eaoh frame member in vertical ofiset overlapping relaticn, and having pocket-f0rming cooperation for loosely supporting cards' in vertical ofi:set relation.

25. In a filing device, a tray, a plurality of rame members having the lower ends provided with movable pivotal connection in said tray, and a plurality of separators mounted on each frame member having the lower endsattached to said frame member in adjacent relation to support said separators in offset overlapping relation, said separators having pocket-forming cooperation to support cards in ofiset relation vertically.

LE ROI E. HUTCH1NGS. 

